The bill would establish a minimum set of requirements to ensure that tenants have access to housing that meets basic standards. | Canva
The bill would establish a minimum set of requirements to ensure that tenants have access to housing that meets basic standards. | Canva
A bill that protects Arkansas tenants by creating basic housing standards for rental properties across the state may soon be signed into law.
Arkansas is currently the only state in the country without an implied guarantee of habitability standardized and written into law, reported KUAR news. A similar bill, which was supported by tenant-advocates, passed the same House committee a month ago, but has since stalled.
"What this bill does, is that it gives the tenants the ability to have some warrant of habitability and they also have the opportunity to leave a lease without penalty, without worry of repercussion from their landlord," Hawks told KUAR News.
Senate Bill 594 will amend the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 and establish a minimum set of requirements to ensure that tenants have access to housing that meets basic standards for running water, electricity and properly working sewage.
Under the new legislation, tenants who are up to date on their rent can move out of a rental property without penalty if a landlord does not address a violation of these minimum standards within 30 days of being notified of issues.
If the bill is passed, it will head to the governor's desk for his signature.
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